Meles Zenawi (57), Ethiopia’s Prime Minister since 1995, died on Monday night after a protracted battle with an undisclosed illness in a hospital in Brussels, state-owned ETV reported on Tuesday.
At a press conference, government spokesperson Bereket Simon said Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn would head a transitional government while the ruling party chooses Mr. Meles successor, adding that the Constitution allowed his government to appoint a successor without holding elections.
On Tuesday, the capital city of Addis Ababa was calm as state television broadcast archival footage, interviews, and photographs of Mr. Meles, often accompanied by funereal music. Government offices continued to function.
Mr. Meles’s Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front seized power in 1991 following the collapse of the dictatorship of Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam. He headed the transitional government and won elections in 1995, 2000, 2005 and most recently in 2010, in a landslide election whose validity was questioned by Western observers and human rights groups.
Stronger economy
Mr. Meles is credited with resurrecting the ruined economy he inherited in 1991. In the last seven years, the economy has grown by an average 11 per cent annually due to investments in agriculture and infrastructure.
He also forged closer trade ties with India, Turkey and China and supported U.S. military operations in strife-torn Somalia.
Yet his government was also criticised by rights groups for cracking down on internal dissent, targeting journalists and political activists perceived to be critical of his regime, and for opening sensitive sector like agriculture to foreign investment.
Keywords: Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister
It is completely unexpected news to hear that our PM has passed Unless and otherwise the team effort of the council of the minsters and the ruling part exert jointly their effort to realize what was planned and pipelined for execution during the remained period of GTP What Ethiopian are doing at absence of PM will subjected to worlds question. We should understand Ethiopia will not get as visionary leader as him,even Africa, but needs our mutual understanding unity political endurance.
Sorry! to all Ethiopian We missed a big father of development, He pick us from the dirty poverty and We start to see new things that never seen in our history.Meles was live for us not for him and his family.Our house becomes empty after his death. we received a big sad it is sour. Hero can't live but his name is over the grave. His Missions were good lights We Will be their candle to continue their end.
No one represent him. We must start shouting for ourselve not for Meles He get rest. Good Bless him in the Heaven.
Oho, what great depressed time for Ethiopians? We lost our beloved, visionary, delegent and far thinking leader. May the almighty God put
his soul peacefully in heaven.
Regardless of differences in political beliefs and dissatisfaction by
the Ethiopian government: and despite the fact that many wished our PM
death while sick for the couple of Months, what I witnessed today in
the capital (Addis Ababa) was overwhelming! Every citizen of Ethiopia
was in great distress and mournful trance.
At this very moment every single dweller of the capital is waiting,
drenched in rain, the arrival of deceased leader at Bole International
Airport any minute now.
I would like to end my observation by quoting the engraving of a
headstone in Ireland "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love
leaves a memory no one can steal."
Rest in peace P.M. Meles Zenawi, your legacy shall remain in the
hearts of your fellow citizens!
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